RECORD RACK

For The Birds

The fourth LP by this English techno-rock trio kicks off promisingly enough with the grandiose roar of "Better & Better." But the tracks that follow this U2-Edged zinger should be called "Worse & Worse." Most of these ponderous exercises sound more like the mating of machines than the meeting of inspired musicians, making this LP a mostly tiring, claustrophobic experience. The overbearing rhythm tracks are simply too unwieldy to establish solid momentum. Plus, the electronic effects seem like products of unfocused energy.